US payrolls added 678,000 jobs last month, while the jobless rate dropped to 3.8%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Estimates had called for 440,000 jobs added to the economy and a 3.9% jobless rate.

Job listings that permitted flexible or remote work received seven times more applications than in-person positions in February, according to CareerBuilder. Companies can attract talent in this highly competitive environment through techniques designed to improve employee engagement.

Broccoli is higher in calcium than some dairy products, making it good for bone health and muscle function, and it's high in vitamin K, which supports immunity, says registered dietitian Desiree Nielsen. Broccoli is also high in insoluble and soluble fibers, vitamin C, potassium, lutein and zeaxanthin, and the antioxidant sulforaphane, which may reduce inflammation, says RD Erica Ingraham.

Signs are emerging that significant raises employees have been receiving are moderating, according to a Labor Department report, which shows hourly earnings increased only 1 cent last month. Workers are starting to reenter the workplace, which also could cause wages to decline, and inflation is eroding employees' purchasing power.

Good workplaces are also communities that support every individual, with Homeboy Industries serving as an example for decades by giving employment and life alternatives to former gang members, John Baldoni writes. "It is only belonging, and not mere inclusion, that fully arouses bravery in others," Baldoni notes, quoting from the latest book by Homeboy Industries founder Rev. Greg Boyle.

My cousin, Kawai, is a programmer analyst. A gorgeous, smart problem-solver, she quickly climbed the ladder of success at the education office where she was employed.

One day she told me that she got a new project-management role, working as a liaison between the schools and the education office. She would be working with the stakeholders at the school and communicating their needs to the IT teams back at the education office who would be building the systems for the schools.

“It’s a brand-new position,” she explained. “They created it for me.”

I smiled, knowingly. I knew why they put her in the role.

“Cousin, they put you there because you speak geek and human,” I explained, still grinning. With her thousand-watt smile and down-to-earth demeanor, Kawai could work easily with end-user teams, make them feel comfortable and help them figure out what they needed. Then she’d take her whip-sharp brain and translate those needs to the brainiac programmers toiling away in the caverns of the education agency. She had exactly the right skill set and personality to bring alignment between the two sides and create the smart, efficient systems.

I thought of Kawai when I read today’s story about IT transformations in Leadership & Development. Synergy between the IT and the business teams matters. Synergy moves organizations forward. Disconnect will bring you to a grinding halt.

How are you creating Kawai-like synergy in your company? Let me know! And send this to others who should join the Workforce conversation.